Offshore Construction Update

Offshore construction update - February 2019

Offshore substation

In a huge milestone moment for East Anglia ONE, the offshore substation has reached its home in the southern North Sea, some 59km from the coast of Lowestoft. The installation was supported by the Seaway Heavy Lifting Oleg Strashnov vessel, lifting and securing the substantial steel structure, one of the largest of its type in the world.

The offshore substation is the single largest and most complex engineering challenge for te East Anglia ONE project. Around 60 electrical engineers and technicians are needed to complete the installation of intricate electrical work to commission the substation, to make ready for the first turbines being switched on. The substation will house all the electrical equipment needed to distribute power from the 102 wind turbines back to shore in Suffolk.

Jacket Foundations

Work in other areas offshore is also continuing with the installation of the piles and jacket foundations (the base of the turbines). Following the ongoing successful installation of the piles (the bottom of the foundations which are driven into the seabed to form the secure base), jacket foundation installation is well underway marking a further important stage in the offshore construction of the windfarm.

The foundations are being installed by contractor Van Oord using purpose-built vessells; Boskalis' Bokalift 1, Heerema's Aegir and Great Yarmouth based Seajacks' Scylla. The jacket foundations are 65 metres tall, immersed up to 45 metres deep in the water, and will suppoer the tower, blades and nacelle of the wind turbine.

In 2019 we will start installing the turbines, with the first electricity planned to be generated before the end of 2019.